“We Still Need Her,” Week 45 / Chapter 60

I am so excited about sharing this chapter because it’s one of those rare glimpses into how Darcy and Elizabeth interact with one another now that they have come together as a couple. This is a chapter that has unfortunately been excluded from the 1995 Andrew Davies adaptation, so I was thrilled to find these illustrations by C.E. Brock of Darcy and Elizabeth during these very early days of their courtship; and yes, Elizabeth is a blonde in these illustrations!

Chapter 60

Elizabeth’s spirits soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. “How could you begin?” said she. “I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?”

“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”

“My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners—my behaviour to you was at least always bordering on the uncivil, and I never spoke to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not. Now be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?”

“For the liveliness of your mind, I did.”

“You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very little less. The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking, and looking, and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused, and interested you, because I was so unlike them. Had you not been really amiable, you would have hated me for it; but in spite of the pains you took to disguise yourself, your feelings were always noble and just; and in your heart, you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously courted you. There—I have saved you the trouble of accounting for it; and really, all things considered, I begin to think it perfectly reasonable. To be sure, you knew no actual good of me—but nobody thinks of that when they fall in love.”

“Was there no good in your affectionate behaviour to Jane while she was ill at Netherfield?”

“Dearest Jane! who could have done less for her? But make a virtue of it by all means. My good qualities are under your protection, and you are to exaggerate them as much as possible; and, in return, it belongs to me to find occasions for teasing and quarrelling with you as often as may be; and I shall begin directly by asking you what made you so unwilling to come to the point at last. What made you so shy of me, when you first called, and afterwards dined here? Why, especially, when you called, did you look as if you did not care about me?”

“Because you were grave and silent, and gave me no encouragement.”

“But I was embarrassed.”

“And so was I.”

“You might have talked to me more when you came to dinner.”

“A man who had felt less, might.”

“How unlucky that you should have a reasonable answer to give, and that I should be so reasonable as to admit it! But I wonder how long you would have gone on, if you had been left to yourself. I wonder when you would have spoken, if I had not asked you! My resolution of thanking you for your kindness to Lydia had certainly great effect. Too much, I am afraid; for what becomes of the moral, if our comfort springs from a breach of promise? for I ought not to have mentioned the subject. This will never do.”

“You need not distress yourself. The moral will be perfectly fair. Lady Catherine’s unjustifiable endeavours to separate us were the means of removing all my doubts. I am not indebted for my present happiness to your eager desire of expressing your gratitude. I was not in a humour to wait for any opening of yours. My aunt’s intelligence had given me hope, and I was determined at once to know every thing.”

“Lady Catherine has been of infinite use, which ought to make her happy, for she loves to be of use. But tell me, what did you come down to Netherfield for? Was it merely to ride to Longbourn and be embarrassed? or had you intended any more serious consequence?”

“My real purpose was to see you, and to judge, if I could, whether I might ever hope to make you love me. My avowed one, or what I avowed to myself, was to see whether your sister were still partial to Bingley, and if she were, to make the confession to him which I have since made.”

“Shall you ever have courage to announce to Lady Catherine what is to befall her?”

“I am more likely to want more time than courage, Elizabeth. But it ought to be done, and if you will give me a sheet of paper, it shall be done directly.”

“And if I had not a letter to write myself, I might sit by you and admire the evenness of your writing, as another young lady once did. But I have an aunt, too, who must not be longer neglected.”

From an unwillingness to confess how much her intimacy with Mr. Darcy had been over-rated, Elizabeth had never yet answered Mrs. Gardiner’s long letter; but now, having that to communicate which she knew would be most welcome, she was almost ashamed to find that her uncle and aunt had already lost three days of happiness, and immediately wrote as follows:

“I would have thanked you before, my dear aunt, as I ought to have done, for your long, kind, satisfactory, detail of particulars; but to say the truth, I was too cross to write. You supposed more than really existed. But now suppose as much as you choose; give a loose rein to your fancy, indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the subject will afford, and unless you believe me actually married, you cannot greatly err. You must write again very soon, and praise him a great deal more than you did in your last. I thank you, again and again, for not going to the Lakes. How could I be so silly as to wish it! Your idea of the ponies is delightful. We will go round the Park every day. I am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so before, but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh. Mr. Darcy sends you all the love in the world that he can spare from me. You are all to come to Pemberley at Christmas. Yours, etc.”

Mr. Darcy’s letter to Lady Catherine was in a different style; and still different from either was what Mr. Bennet sent to Mr. Collins, in reply to his last.

“DEAR SIR,

“I must trouble you once more for congratulations. Elizabeth will soon be the wife of Mr. Darcy. Console Lady Catherine as well as you can. But, if I were you, I would stand by the nephew. He has more to give.

“Yours sincerely, etc.”

Miss Bingley’s congratulations to her brother, on his approaching marriage, were all that was affectionate and insincere. She wrote even to Jane on the occasion, to express her delight, and repeat all her former professions of regard. Jane was not deceived, but she was affected; and though feeling no reliance on her, could not help writing her a much kinder answer than she knew was deserved.

The joy which Miss Darcy expressed on receiving similar information, was as sincere as her brother’s in sending it. Four sides of paper were insufficient to contain all her delight, and all her earnest desire of being loved by her sister.

Before any answer could arrive from Mr. Collins, or any congratulations to Elizabeth from his wife, the Longbourn family heard that the Collinses were come themselves to Lucas Lodge. The reason of this sudden removal was soon evident. Lady Catherine had been rendered so exceedingly angry by the contents of her nephew’s letter, that Charlotte, really rejoicing in the match, was anxious to get away till the storm was blown over. At such a moment, the arrival of her friend was a sincere pleasure to Elizabeth, though in the course of their meetings she must sometimes think the pleasure dearly bought, when she saw Mr. Darcy exposed to all the parading and obsequious civility of her husband. He bore it, however, with admirable calmness. He could even listen to Sir William Lucas, when he complimented him on carrying away the brightest jewel of the country, and expressed his hopes of their all meeting frequently at St. James’s, with very decent composure. If he did shrug his shoulders, it was not till Sir William was out of sight.

Mrs. Phillips’s vulgarity was another, and perhaps a greater, tax on his forbearance; and though Mrs. Phillips, as well as her sister, stood in too much awe of him to speak with the familiarity which Bingley’s good humour encouraged, yet, whenever she did speak, she must be vulgar. Nor was her respect for him, though it made her more quiet, at all likely to make her more elegant. Elizabeth did all she could to shield him from the frequent notice of either, and was ever anxious to keep him to herself, and to those of her family with whom he might converse without mortification; and though the uncomfortable feelings arising from all this took from the season of courtship much of its pleasure, it added to the hope of the future; and she looked forward with delight to the time when they should be removed from society so little pleasing to either, to all the comfort and elegance of their family party at Pemberley.

What can I say that hasn’t been inferred by you already? We have our happiest of endings before Austen’s last chapter. For me, it also contains some of my favorite lines:

I am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so before, but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh. Mr. Darcy sends you all the love in the world that he can spare from me.

We know that beyond the shadow of a doubt that this marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth will be a happy and loving marriage between two equals and when Elizabeth asserts she is happier than Jane, I have no doubts about this too. Elvira Casal’s article, Laughing at Mr. Darcy: Wit & Sexuality in Pride and Prejudice, provides some food for thought in regards to the role of laughter throughout the story. In her opening paragraph, she says:

By the end of the novel, when Elizabeth writes to her aunt, “‘I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh’” (383), Elizabeth’s laughter has changed from the laughter of amusement to the laughter of relief. In the process, Elizabeth has had to confront facts that she cannot laugh away, such as her parent’s inadequacies, Lydia’s elopement, and ultimately Elizabeth’s own vulnerability as a woman in a patriarchal society. She has also had to redefine her opinion of Mr. Darcy and admit to herself that she would like to be his wife. However, what she has not done is give up her idea that Mr. Darcy, like everyone else in society, is sometimes the proper subject of laughter. In the final pages of the novel we hear of Georgiana Darcy’s surprise at the “lively, sportive manner” in which Elizabeth addresses Mr. Darcy (387-88). But just what does “laughing at Mr. Darcy” come to mean for Elizabeth?

I believe Casal does a fabulous job helping us think more deeply about the role of laughter and humor during Austen’s time and how it relates back to the events and characters in this story in some crucial ways. It also helped me appreciate the interactions between Darcy and Elizabeth in new ways throughout the story.

If you love the illustrations from this chapter as much as I do, you can visit this link to see all of Austen’s stories that have been illustrated by the Brock brothers. You can also read this post to learn about the two men, Henry and Charles Brock, who played important roles in shaping the illustrated editions of Austen’s stories. JASNA also has an article that shares some illustrations done by various artists of Austen’s stories too. I am so anxious to get my hands on some of these beautifully illustrated editions!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did! You can also visit my Pride & Prejudice Pinterest Board to see more images that I love related to this story. Next week I have a very special guest joining us as we close the final chapter here on my blog. Can you possibly guess who it will be? I hope you’ll join me for one last chapter and some fun giveaways too!

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this chapter! Do you wish this scene was included in the Davies adaptation? What are your thoughts about Darcy and Elizabeth’s future? Have you ever wondered if they will truly be happier than Charles and Jane? Did you love Mr. Bennet’s letter? I love his suggestion to Mr. Collins ‘But, if I were you, I would stand by the nephew. He has more to give.’ What do you think Collins will do?

Oh yes, I would have loved to have seen this chapter done by Andrew Davies! I think my favourite quote from this one is:

“A man who had felt less, might.”

Elizabeth may very well laugh and not only because she is happy, but to get over her own mortification for thinking less of Darcy. He did realize that his ‘pride’ was unbearable and tried his best to let it go when necessary. However, Elizabeth was proud as well.

I too would love to get my hands on one of these early editions of P&P by Henry and Charles Brock. I know my Uncle in Ireland owns a signed copy he got at auction over there!!!!! I actually went through it very carefully when I was there last year.

So looking forward to next week but at the same time, sorry to see this end…

One of the copies of P&P that I downloaded is illustrated by H.M. Brock, which is why I got it. Love the pictures!

What I love about this chapter is the reader FINALLY hears from the man himself what he was thinking at certain spots in the book. Everything else is Elizabeth’s observation. And this ties everything up in a neat little string and answers some questions the reader might have.

I also love that we get another example of Mr. Bennet’s dry wit in his letter to Mr. Collins. As to what the latter will do, I would expect him to continue to side with Lady Catherine. It’s not to be expected that he can get a living out of Darcy, so Mr. Collins will continue to flatter and bow and commiserate with his grand patroness and hope she doesn’t make life miserable for him because his cousin stole her nephew from her daughter!

Oh, and you also asked about whether Darcy and Elizabeth will really be as happy as Jane and Bingley. In my experience talking to other married couples in church studies, I think they’ll be equally so but that it will be a different kind of happiness. Every marriage is different, even the happy ones. It’s a guarantee that the Darcys will argue more forcefully, but they’ll also find ways to resolve their disputes with good communication. It’ll be more volatile. Jane and Bingley’s relationship will probably be calmer, more sedate. Perhaps it’ll be less passionate in bed (though perhaps not… those still waters often run deep!), but I don’t expect them to hold viewpoints so strongly that they clash much.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts about my question regarding the comparison between the marriages of the Darcys and the Bingleys. Your points express many of mine too. Different strokes, different couples… but in the end, I gather they all lived happy lives… Thank you so much for your feedback throughout these posts. You’re comments always push my own thinking even more and I am so grateful for this shared experience! 😊

Well said, Debbie. It is wonderful to hear from Darcy himself and feel privy to an actual conversation between the two characters themselves. And Mr. Bennet’s response is just too delicious; succinct and yet, so telling. I certainly wonder how that all played out over time!

I love this chapter and have no idea why I was not included in the 1995 series! I think personally it would have been better to include this than the one in the garden with Lydia and Kitty on the swing and Wickham with Elizabeth. And I definitely could live without watching Mr Collins eating his breakfast at Hunsford!! How could he exclude those quotes about Darcy’s feelings and Elizabeth’s laughter plus the wonderful letters? Thank you so much Claudine for sharing this wonderful book, I’m only sorry we have just one chapter to go.

Great point from D. Brown that we finally get to hear from Darcy because that’s what we’ve all been gagging for all along really isn’t it? I love how easy they are with each other for a newly affianced couple, even in the awkward circumstances. I too can’t understand why this was left out of the BBC version. It is one of the most wonderful scenes in the book, seeing how they interacted together. I enjoyed Firth’s portrayal of Darcy very much, but I will never forgive him (or the director?) for his understated ‘Heartfelt Delight’ when Elizabeth finally accepts him. He looked like he was withholding a fart, not winning the love of his life! This scene (above) would have been the most wonderful opportunity to see that delight played out. Sigh!

Great illustrations and articles Claudine. Both very interesting in that they portray Darcy as still very haughty. I wonder if that was deliberate? The piece on Laughter in P&P was a particularly great read. Very interesting to draw parallels between laughter and sexual attraction/liberty – and a successful analogy I think. People generally attribute Elizabeth with more passion than her sister. It’s fascinating to think that deeper characterisation has been achieved by Austen’s use of laughter.

You’re welcome, Jessie. I am so glad you enjoyed this post. It’s really a favorite of mine.

I know what you mean about the proposal scene too. I believe I read somewhere that Davies said it was the one scene he’d like to do again. He felt he should have had them stop walking as well, instead of walking throughout their entire dialogue. For such avid readers as ourselves, it’s hard to not long for these parts to be different…

Thank you for sharing your thoughts about the article too. I love how scholars can shed light on these important details for us. It just makes me appreciate Austen even more! 😉

I pulled out my DVD of the 1985 version of P&P. It does give us more of canon in that we hear Elizabeth questioning when Mr. Darcy fell in love with her but going on to fill in the answers for herself. It has no wedding scene after that discussion but shows M/M Bennet’s reactions to the engagement. I love the 1995 version but think that the ’85 one does keep to canon more.

As for the future relationships in marriage between the two sisters and their husbands, I think, (IMHO), that Elizabeth and Darcy might have had a more passionate interchange in many areas as they both seem to feel more deeply and JUDGE more deeply than Jane and Bingley. But we will never know – will we?

Laughter: so many authors, i.e., Jack Caldwell, whose Mr. Darcy’s P&P POV I just finished reading, have many comments about how he (Darcy) loves her delightful laughter. She laughs, Jane smiles…seems to reflect some depth of emotion…again IMO. Thinking about the many roles of laughter (and reading that article) I can see and do know that laughter has many uses: it can show amusement and disdain, it can support or ridicule and even in the bedroom it can have opposite effects. I remember in my early years being told never to laugh at a man’s sexual prowess or his driving abilities. Can’t remember who told me that but the male ego is a delicate beast, I think many will agree.

I agree with the author that those times discouraged laughter from females but educating women was also discouraged as they might be labeled a blue stocking…as is Mary in some versions. My husband is one who loves to evoke laughter and, unfortunately uses the same joke with strangers over and over again to do so…I groan at hearing it again.

Yes, Andrew Davies missed his chance, admittedly. But isn’t it odd that film makers gave the American audience a romance scene at the end of the 2005 version of P&P and left it out for the British audience? What does that say about how we as readers or movie goers are seen? Do Americans accept sex scenes in their JAFF books vs. non-acceptance by the Brits?

I loved your comments, Sheila. Especially your comparisons between American and British audiences. Doesn’t 1995 P&P also contain a fleeting moment where Darcy glances at Elizabeth, which wasn’t included in the British version? I hope our British friends jump in here to share their opinions about these observations.

Your points about the various meanings conveyed through laughter are interesting. So much can be communicated through laughter. I guess that’s why so many JAFF authors include Elizabeth’s laughter in their stories.

Thank you for being such a faithful conversationalist throughout this series. You always bring new points forward for us to discuss and enjoy! 😉

I enjoy your feedback and love reading others’ comments and the feedback there also. I admire your research and finding articles to give us additional ways of looking at our favorite story. I am just now reading your blog on Disturbing the Dust. Persuasion is my second favorite JA story.

I hope you enjoy the review and excerpts from “Disturbing the Dust.” Perhaps it will interest you since you love “Persuasion,” as your love for “Persuasion” helped propel me to reread it this past January. 😊

If Davies adaptation had been 10 series instead of 6, recreating every word, look and scene of the book, I would have loved it and re-watched it even more. To have Colin and Jennifer playing the mentioned dialog and courtship scenes mentioned between the lines would have been delightful!
And in light of the above discussions, I do wonder which version of Davies adaptation I watch, British or American. Could you please tell me which Darcy’s look at Lizzy did not make it to the British version?
I like the letters sent and described in chapter 60, but Lizzy’s letter to her aunt is my favourite, as it clearly shows her heartfelt delight on forthcoming union and her delightfully witty style of epistolary communication (her laughter in writing, if I may say so), and also proves once again that she is her father’s daughter when it comes to humor and wit:)

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